Quote Originally Posted by uforgot View Post
Nope. Not at all. I'm so sorry if you took it that way. It was directed at the person who was giving themselves a shower, and the people who request "cash" or "gift cards" only. Then I got to thinking, I'm not getting married, nor am I having a baby, but I could use some stuff. Whenever I'm at showers we always talk about how we should have showers every 20 years or so when it all wears out. So I thought, maybe I should give MYSELF a shower.

Anyway, Im okay with registries. It helps out people who are really concerned what to get. No one is required, or even requested to shop from it. At least they shouldn't be. Oh, not when the least expensive thing is $200 mind you, and bridezilla is watching every step you make. I kind of like going through and picking out something that matches, but if someone doesn't shop from the registry, they still took the time and effort to get the couple something they wanted them to have. I remember my niece was very irritated that someone deviated from the registry and DARED to give her purple towels. Of course I let her know how I felt. This and the money/gift card request is the "all about me" part. I imagine that at 35, your thanks were sincere and you probably even sent thank you notes.

Oh, and by the way, a shower STILL means "shower with gifts", otherwise it's something else.
Sorry - I don't know why I'm overly sensitive today. Of course we sent thank you's...do people not? I don't know why I ask, I'm sure there are people who don't. Just like there are people who throw their own showers or only register for $200 items and up. Luckily, I've not had to attend any showers or weddings where thank you's were not sent out! I do have one hell of a Bridezilla story though - it even got published in one of the books - that I'd be happy to share.

I agree that 'shower' generally means shower with gifts, but it could also be expanded to mean "shower with attention/good wishes". As I mentioned, I've been to a couple of them where they weren't about gifts at all. I think had they called it a pre-wedding party, half the older family members probably wouldn't have attended for fear it would be about the young people. I think calling it a shower and then saying 'no gifts' was totally acceptable. It sure was fun!

And while I agree with 99% of Indysteel's post - I still don't feel that putting your registry info on a shower invite is proper. It doesn't matter who is throwing the party - putting it in print is advertising, plain and simple. Word of mouth, or don't bother as far as I'm concerned.